Altar for homes



May 13, 1941. 1 J. MURPHY ALTAR FOR HOMES Filed may 24, 1940 rflzy M Patented May 13, 1941 ALTAR FOR HOMES Lawrence E. Murphy, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 24, 1940, Serial No. 336,933

(Cl. Llil-13G) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an altar for homes.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of an altar which is adapted to be hung upon the wall and into which a statue is adapted to ybe placed and which is provided with a novel means for illuminating the same.

A further object of this invention is to characterize the altar by Vertical rigid strip for attachment upon the wall which continues at its top into a cross and which is provided at its bottomwith a horizontal base arranged in a manner to permit the statue to be placed thereon.

Still further the invention proposes the arrangement of a horizontal top member Ymounted on said strip at the base of said cross and superimposed above said base in. a manner to permit fabric material to be mounted there-between at the sides and back thereof for completing the decorative effect of the altar.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a means for a-djustably supporting lsaid top member in a manner to permit the same to be moved away from and towards said base so that the space there-between may be changed as desired to change the height of said altar to accommodate statues of different sizes.

For further compression of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will rbe had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and. to the appended claimsin which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an altar constructed in accordance Iwith this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View of the bracket used for holding the fabric material.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating an adjusted position of the top member.

The altar for homes, according to this invention, includes a f vertical rigid member I0 for attachment upon a Wall. This rigid member It) is preferably constructed of wood and continues at its top end into a cross lila. The cross Ilia, is provided on itsv top arm with an eyelet which is adapted to be engaged upon a hook or nail driven into the wall for supporting the altar.

The bottom"offtherigidwmember I0 khas a horizontal base member I2. This base member I2 is preferably constructedA of the same material as the rigid member I0 and is fxedly held in position by means of a bracket I3. 'This bracket I3 has one side engaging the bottom face of the base member I2 and a second side engaging the front face of the rigid strip I0 and is securely attached thereto for assisting in maintaining the base member in a right angular position relative to the rigid member ID.

A horizontal top member I4 is mounted on the strip I near the basefof the cross lila. This top member Ill s also constructed of substantially the same material as the rigid member I0 and is arranged in a superimposed position above the base member I2.

Strips of fabric material are mounted upon vand depend from the members I2 and I4. More specifically, a strip of material I5 is mounted on the base member I2. 'This strip of material I5 has a horizontal portion I5a extending across the top face of the base member I2 and a depending portion Iii'b extending downwards from the peripheral edge of the base member I2. This depending portion I5o is arranged to cover the bracket I3 which holds the base member in position upon the rigid member I0. Likewise, the top member Ill has fabric material I'G depending from its peripheral edge.

Fabric material II is mounted between the sides and the back of the base member I2 and the top member Ill. This fabric material I1 is a continuous piece and starts at one side of the altar and extends across theback thereof and projects forward along the other side thereof. The intermediate area Ila of the fabric material which engages across the back of the altar is extended across the front face ofthe rigid member I as specifically shown in Fig. 2. Thus any desired religious statue may be placed upon the base member I2 and be viewed through the opening formed between the adjacent sides ofthe fabric material Il.

A means is provided for illuminating the interior of the altar, and more .specically the statue contained therein. This meanscomprises an electric lamp I8 mounted upon the top member I4 behind the depending fabric material I1. It further includes a lamp. I 9 mounted upon the base member I0 adjacent the front edge thereof. An electric wire 20 is provided for connecting the lamps I8 and I9 together and is provided with a plug 2i which is adapted to be engaged into a conventional house outlet for providingk the necessary current to illuminate' the lamps 'I 8 and I9. The base member I2 is further provided with a means for concealing the lamp I9 from View and for reflecting the light emanating from the lamp into the interior of the altar. This means comprises an upwardly extended rigid member 22 attached to the peripheral edge of the base member I2 to the front of the lamp I9. This rigid member 22 is covered with cloth material 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

`The operation of this device is as follows:

The altar is hung upon the wall by engaging the eyelet' II upon a hook or wall support and a convenient statue is placed upon the base member I2. For illuminating the interior of the altar, and more specifically, the statue the plug 2I is engaged into a conventional house outlet for supplying the required current to illuminate the lamps I8 and I9.

According to the modification of the inventionY shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, the construction of the altar is similar tothat previously described except for the provision of a means for horizontally adjustably supporting the top member I4 so that the same may be moved from a top Vposition downwards. This means comprises a stud 24 projecting from the back edge of the top member I4 and which engages intov a vertically arranged elongated slot 25 formed in the rigid member III. After passing through the slot 25 a wing nut 26 is threadedly engaged upon the extended portion of the stud 2d for tightly clamping the top member in various fixed positions along the length of the slot 25.

This' form of the invention is also provided with a further meansV for taking `up the slack in the top portion of the fabric material I'I when the top member I4 is in its completely lowered position. This means comprises a bracket 2'! formed of" relatively stiff wire and having substantially the same contour as the top member It'. This bracket 2'I has its ends 21a fixedly attached to the rigid member I at the base of the slot 25. The fabric material II is securely attached to the bracket 21 by means of stitches 28 for tightly stretching the bottom portion of the fabric material between the peripheral edge of the base member I2 and the bracket 21. Thus when the top member I is in its lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4, the top portion of the fabric material I which is disposed between the bfracket2'I and the edge of the top member I4 will double upon itself and project downwards on the inside of the altar to be concealed from view. Asl shown in Fig. 6, when this top member Ill vis in its upper position, the slack of the fabric will be completely taken up and tautly extended between the bracket 2'I and the top member I4. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and similar parts may be identified by corresponding reference numerals. While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention' as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the topcontinuing into across, a horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members.

2. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, a horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members, and means for illuminating the interior of said altar.

3. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, a horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said Vertical strip, a horizontal topmember mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed -above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back lof said members and means for illuminating the interior of said altar, said means comprising a lamp mounted upon said top member behind its depending strip of material, a second lamp mounted upon said base member adjacent the front edge thereof, and means for supplying the required current to illuminate said lamps.

4. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a Wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, Aa horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said Vertical strip, a horizontal topmember mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members and means for'illuminating the interior of said altar, said means comprising a lamp mounted upon said top member behind its depending strip of material, a second lamp mounted upon said base member adjacent thev front edge thereof, and a means for supplying the required current to illuminate said lamps, and means on said base member for concealing its lamp and for reflecting light emanating therefrom into said altar.

5. An altar for homes, comprising a Vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, ahorizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of saidv cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending `from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members, and a bracket for assisting in supporting said base member on said rigid member.

6. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, a horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and Vfabric material mounted between the sides andthe back of said members, means for horizontally adjustably supporting said top member to move from a top position downwards, and means for taking up the slack of the top portion of said fabric material when said top member is lowered.

'7. An altar for homes, comprising a vertical rigid strip for attachment on a wall, and at the top continuing into a cross, a horizontal base member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric materia] depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members, means for horizontally adjustably supporting said top member to move from a top position downwards, and means for taking up the slack of the top portion of said fabric material when said top member mounted on the bottom portion of said vertical strip, a horizontal top member mounted on said strip near the bottom of said cross and superimposed above said base member, strips of fabric material depending from the edges of said members, and fabric material mounted between the sides and the back of said members, means for horizontally adjustably supporting said top member to move from a top position downwards, and means for taking up the slack of the top portion of said fabrics material when said top member is lowered, said first mentioned means comprising a stud extending from said top member and passing through a vertically arranged elongated slot formed in said rigid member, and a wing nut threadedly engaged on said stud for clamping said top member in various adjusted positions along the length of said slot, said latter-mentioned means comprising a bracket attached to said rigid member at the base of said slot, means for attaching an intermediate portion of said fabric material to said bracket for tautly stretching the bottom portion thereof between said bracket and said base member and for permitting the top portion of said fabric material to be freely extended between said bracket and said top member so that said top member may be moved relative to said base member.

LAWRENCE J. MURPHY. 

